In my youth I was a sun junkie, and have recently started to notice more freckles on my skin. I’ve heard that laser will get rid of these. Is that true? What can I expect from any treatments? How long does it take to heal after a treatment? I regret spending so much time in the sun as a kid in the 1970's and I protected my daughters with sunscreen as they grew up. I didn't want them to suffer from early aging and freckles like I have. I hope laser treatments will help but I'm confused about which one to ask for.

Thank you,

Geri S., Ft. Lauderdale

Hi Geri,

Thank you for your question. What you are experiencing is most likely sun spots and age spots brought about by overexposure to the sun. These can be safely removed with a laser. We’ve had the best result using an Intense Pulse Light system.

During a laser treatment, the light from the laser is attracted to the melanin in the pigmented spots and heats those cells. Immediately following the treatment, the spots may start to darken. Over the next couple of weeks, the darken spots will fade and flake off leaving your complexion clearer. Typically, one to two treatments are enough to see dramatic results. However, additional treatments may be required for very large and dark spots or excessively sun damaged skin.

Over time new spots may appear if there is continued over exposure to the sun. These can also be removed. I applaud you for protecting your daughters and be sure to continue to apply sunscreen (early and often) when outdoors to minimize sun damage and the re-appearance of new spots.